Engine difference will only partly account for this. Mercedes is the faster car, especially over one lap.dren wrote:Maybe so in qualifying. Hamilton had Vettel by almost a second.
Over distance, this advantage has to be managed by Merc. as the whole car caracteristic is more centered on sheer speed, eating up tyres.
I never bought all these huge power difference numbers, be it between different engines, be it from 2014 to 2015.
The boundaries are too narrow as to be able to have a 50+ hp advantage, if all components work as allowed (i.e. MGU-K able to put out 120kW, ES to comply with heavy charging/discharging cycles, etc.).